Canon To Release New Mixed Reality Headset, the Canon MREAL S1 (February, around $38000)

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Canon will soon release a new mixed reality headset, the Canon MREAL S1. Not the first device of this kind made by Canon.

But first: what is mixed reality? According to Wikipedia:

is the merging of real and virtual worlds to produce new environments and visualizations, where physical and digital objects co-exist and interact in real time. Mixed reality does not exclusively take place in either the physical or virtual world, but is a hybrid of reality and virtual reality. There are many practical applications of mixed reality, including entertainment, military training, and remote working. There are also different display technologies used to facilitate the interaction between users and mixed reality applications.

DC Watch reports that the Canon MREAL S1 will be released in February 2021. The MREAL S1 is a see-through, head-mounted display that synthesizes and displays CG images in real time. The MREAL S1 is notably smaller and lighter than the previous model.

The price is around ¥4 million (approx. $38,500).

  • mreal s1
  • mreal s1

Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM Review (improved in almost every way, D. Abbott)

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Here is a new Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM review. One of the less expensive lenses for the EOS R, and a classic full frame lens.

Our favourite gear reviewer Dustin Abbott posted his exhaustive Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM review. Form his conclusion:

[…] after spending time with the RF 50mm F1.8, I can also say with confidence that Canon didn’t just “mail it in” by throwing an RF mount on the EF lens.  The RF lens is improved in almost every way.  The build quality is noticeably improved and is far from feeling like a toy like the EF 50mm F1.8 II did.  This feels like a real lens, a finished product.  The same is true of the autofocus performance, where the STM motor in the newest lens is smoother and snappier in performance than the older EF STM lens.  When I reviewed the EF 50mm F1.8 STM, I had to make major micro-adjustments to get accurate focus on my DSLRs, so it is such a liberating thing to not have to worry about focus accuracy on mirrorless.  I just threw the lens on my camera and started shooting…and got great results.

I also threw the RF 50mm F1.8 into the EOS R5 gauntlet with its 45 MP of resolution, and the lens emerged largely unscathed.  Wide open contrast isn’t amazing, and there is a surprising amount of vignette that is now part of the equation, but the lens is capable of producing very nice images with good detail and great bokeh even at wide apertures, and if you stop the lens down, it becomes very sharp.

Read the review at dustinabbott.net…

As usual the review comes with a huge set of sample pictures, comparison charts, and all the information you might want to know. Dustin’s reviews are what I look for when I am about to purchase new gear. And for those who prefer to watch their reviews, Dustin Abbott provides a comprehensive video-review.

This is the full review:

And this is a more compact version of the review:

You can follow Dustin Abbott on Twitter, YouTube, or on his website.

More Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM review stuff are listed here. This lens is a no brainer for every EOS R owner.

At a glance:

  • RF-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
  • Aperture Range: f/1.8 to f/22
  • One Aspherical Element
  • Super Spectra Coating
  • STM Stepping AF Motor
  • Customizable Control Ring
  • Rounded 7-Blade Diaphragm

Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM: [shoplist 64339]

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Watch The Sony ALPHA a1 Announcement Live Stream (the “one never seen”)

EOS R3 vs Sony a1
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Sony is set to announce a camera that’s the “one never seen”. We know it is the Sony ALPHA a1.

At a glance:

  • 50 MP at 30fps
  • 8k30p and 4k120p
  • New Bionz XR (8times faster)
  • Pixel Shift Multi Shooting (199MP)
  • 5.5 stops sensor stabilization
sony alpha a1

Preorder at $6,498 at B&H Photo | Adorama

Sony ALPHA a1 announcement live stream:

Sony ALPHA a1 press release after the break

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New Canon EOS R5 Firmware Update In February 2021 (more new features coming)

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Canon is set to release another Canon EOS R5 firmware update very soon, most likely in February 2021.

The new EOS R5 firmware update is said to be already installed on select cameras and getting tested in beta version (i.e. not ready for release). The same source suggests Canon has long-term plans to add new features to both the Canon EOS R5 and EOS R6. Long-term means within the next 1-2 years.

The next EOS R5 firmware will bring:

  • Canon Cinema RAW light addition
  • C-Log 3
  • 1080p @ 120fps
  • Various bug fixes

Previous EOS R5 firmware updates and features added are listed here, EOS R6 firmware updates are listed here. Canon EOS R5 reviews are listed here, for EOS R6 reviews see here. The EOS R5 is highly regarded as a stills camera. In particular, the EOS R5 autofocus system seems to be huge leap forwards. User manual are available for download for the EOS R5 and the EOS R6.

Canon EOS R5: [shoplist 62744]

Canon EOS R6: [shoplist 62745]

Source: Canon Rumors

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Camera Sales To Drop By 8% Compared To 10 Years Ago, Canon Exec Predicts

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Camera sales are going to drop by around 8% compared to the figures of 2010. The prediction comes from a Canon executive.

Mr. Tsuyoshi Tokura, Canon’s imaging division general manager, gave an interview to Japanese camera website Toyokeizai. He says some rather interesting things there, for instance that 8K video was added to the EOS R5 only for marketing reasons. Another article on Toyokeizai cites Mr. Tokura predicting an 8.2% drop in camera sales.

Mr. Tsuyoshi Tokura predicts annual worldwide shipment of digital cameras with figures below 10 million units for th next years. Reasons for this steady decline in sales figures are seen primarily in smartphones, and then also came the Covid-19 pandemic.

It was a really sharp drop, and sales and purchasing activities stopped, and (sales) were bottoming out […] a large deficit when looking at the digital camera business alone (Takeshi Tokura)

2020 was a difficult year for the camera industry and Canon acknowledges it. In the ever-shrinking camera market only mirrorless cameras are selling well. Canon knows that, and points out the Canon EOS R5 is a best seller (as is the EOS R6).

[via Digicame-Info]

Here Is An Updated Canon RF Lens Roadmap For The Next 2 Years

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A lot of lenses coming for the Canon EOS R full frame mirrorless camera system. Here is an updated Canon RF lens roadmap.

Canon Rumors summed up all the latest and older rumors about RF mount lenses in a neat list. Here is the RF Lens roadmap:

Canon RF Tilt-Shift Lenses (first to have AF):

  • Canon TS-R 14mm f/4L
  • Canon TS-R 24mm f/3.5L

Canon RF Zoom Lenses:

  • Canon RF 10-24mm f/4L USM
  • Canon RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM
  • Canon RF 18-45mm f/4-5.6 IS STM
  • Canon RF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM (announced 11/4, 2020)
  • Canon RF 100-400mm f/5.6-7.1 IS USM

Canon RF Prime Lenses:

Canon RF Macro Lenses:

  • Canon RF 24mm f/1.8 IS STM Macro
  • Canon RF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM

Canon RF Super Telephoto Lenses:

  • Canon RF 400mm f/2.8L IS USM
  • Canon RF 500mm f/4L IS USM
  • Canon RF 600mm f/4L IS USM
  • Canon RF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM
  • Canon RF 1200mm f/8L IS USM

The list is obviously not complete and might well change over time. Not all of these lenses can be expected to be released in 2021. And there is a global pandemic going on, affecting supply chains and manufacturing.